Steelers Likely To Part Ways With Mike Wallace

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off another disappointing season missing the NFL playoffs leaving a lot of questions heading into the off-season.

Injuries played a big role in the team’s struggles this season with Troy Polamalu, Heath Miller and Ben Roethlisberger all dealing with injuries at different times during the 2012 campaign.

Although the Steelers had an opportunity to turn things around midseason with the AFC North division title still within their reach, Pittsburgh wasn’t able to bounce back from Roethlisberger injuries and as a result missed the playoffs.

One player that has been surrounded by speculation over the course of the season is soon-to-be free agent wide receiver Mike Wallace.

Wallace’s future in Pittsburgh was uncertain to say the least with a contract dispute before the season and now it appears that the team is willing to let the receiver walk in free agency according to Ed Bouchette of Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette:

Now he is an unrestricted free agent and it appears Wallace and the Steelers will part ways in March. They gave him their best offer last year, reportedly averaging $10 million annually over five years, and he turned it down. They stopped negotiating with Wallace once camp started and he did not show up, and quickly turned their attention to Brown. He signed a five-year contract for $42.5 million that included an $8.5 million signing bonus.

Wallace’s numbers have dropped off considerably since the up-and-comer burst onto the scene back in 2010. After catching 60 passes for 1,257 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2010, Wallace put up similar numbers a season later with 72 receptions, 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns.

Unfortunately, Wallace’s numbers continued to fall off in 2012 with 64 catches, 836 yards and eight touchdowns.

Even though Wallace continues to be a force in terms of being one of Roethlisberger’s favorite targets in the end zone, the receiver’s time in Pittsburgh is over. The Miami Dolphins might be one of the more interested teams in Wallace’s services with a need for a considerable upgrade at the wide receiver position.